Moyes targets win at Villa to keep hopes alive

Everton boss David Moyes believes Sunday's clash at Aston Villa has become a "must win'' if his side are to have any hope of qualifying for the Champions League.

It is amazing what one good result and a week can do because just seven days
ago Moyes intimated such a task was beyond his side in the wake of a 2-1 defeat
at Portsmouth.

But after thumping Wigan 4-0 at Goodison Park last weekend, their hopes of a
top-four finish have been revived, although perhaps now hinge on whether they
can add to Martin O'Neill's current misery.

With Everton not playing until 24 hours after Arsenal's visit to Wigan, the Toffees could be 10 points adrift of Arsene Wenger's side come
kick off, adding to the pressure.

"For the Champions League, the answer is 'yes, it is a must win','' conceded
Moyes when posed the question. "If we've any chance of qualifying for the Champions League we need to hang in
there and hope Arsenal slip up.

"Who knows? Let's hope we can pick up the points, that Arsenal do slip up and
we can catch them. If we do lose then that would only highlight the gap between them and us.

"But they've still Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea to play in their
remaining games, so if we can cut that gap to four then it would make it that
much easier to get there.

"But you have to say Arsenal are in good form at the moment, and they've
players back from injury, although they did lose a couple in the Champions
League game in midweek.''

The most likely outcome is Everton will finish fifth or sixth, and the smart
money would be on them over Villa right now as they have lost just two of their
last 19 games.

Compare that to a Villa side who have lost their last four games in the league,
and are without a win in their last nine overall in all competitions.

"If we're looking at the UEFA Cup (next season the Europa League), we're both
in a strong position for that,'' added Moyes. "After all the turmoil we had at the start of the season, and with players
missing, if you had told me then we would finish in the top 10 I would have
shaken your hand.

"It shows what we've done over the years, showed what the players are all
about, and showed we are a side worthy of the top end of the league than near
the bottom.''

Although Moyes felt certain not so long ago Villa would finish in the top four
themselves, he is still wary of the threat they pose.

"In the period just after Christmas, through January and February, they were
winning games, scoring in the last minute, and I really fancied them to finish
fourth,'' assessed Moyes.

"I felt they were really strong favourites for that, and I think there was
even a point when people were thinking they might even get to to the top spot. But it shows you that you can have a dip in form and it can change
completely, that at times football can very quickly turn around.

"So is it the right time to play them? I couldn't tell you. I just know
they've still had a really good season. They've a great manager, they've still a good team and they are still in a
strong position, but of course we'd like to try and climb over them if we
can.''

Moyes has no fresh injury worries, with goalkeeper Tim Howard cleared to play
despite a sore hamstring and thigh potentially aggravated by a back problem.